Mining apparatus



Dec. 24, 1929. M, p, HOLMES 1,741,112

MINING APPARATUS Filed March 12, 1925 [gil/0 d l] S911 t I o Z0 yf/X @tr/zag.

Patented Dec. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MORRIS P. HOLMES, F CLAREHONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO SULLIVAN MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS MINING APPARATUS Application led Hatch 12, 1925. Serial No. 14,917.

My invention relates to mining apparatus. speed feeding mechanism including a usual An object of my invention is to provide an feed operating member herein in the form improved mining apparatus. Another object of a chain sprocket. The feed operating of my invention is to provide an improved member 5 is rotatable on a vertical axis and 6 mining apparatus especially adapted to use is adapted to be driven in opposite directions 55 with the panel system of mining. Still at a fast and at a slow speed in a well known another obJect of my invention is to provide manner. Furthermore,cooperating with each an im roved mining apparatus having a of the feed operating members 5 is a flexible novel crm of elongated cutter bar and infeeding element 6, herein in the form of a cluding improved means for driving the cutfeed chain. As illustrated, the feed chain 6 50 ter chain and for feeding the machine relais guided by a pluralitiy of guide s rockets tively to the work. A further object of my 7 rotatable on vertica axes and 'sposed invention is to provide an improved mining adjacent the feed operatin member 5 and apparatus comprising a novel organization guide sprockets 8 disposed a jacent the oplpowherein a plurality of power units are prosite sides of the forward end of the mac ine 05 vided for driving the cutter chain. A still frame. As the specific structure of the above further object of my invention is to provide mining machines does not per se enter into an improved mining a paratus havin immy invention, it is believed that further deproved feedingmeans t erefor. A stil furscription pf the same is unnecessary.

ther object of my invention is to provide an I n my improvedponstruction and organiimproved mining apparatus having an elonzation it will herein be observed that each ated cutter bar of novel form and including of the feed chains 6 is adapted to cooperate improved feeding means therefor acting at with the feed o rating member 5 and adapteach end of the cutter bar whereby the latter ed to be exten ed from this feed operating may be fed relativel to the work. These member around certain ofthe guide sprockets and other ob'ects an advantages of my in- 7, along the side of the machine frame, around vention will, owever, hereinafter more fully the lguide sprocket 8 at the advancing side appear. of t e machine frame, and forwardly from In the accompanyin drawings I have the machine along the side of the panel of shown for purposes of il ustration two forms the coal. The feed chain is then adapted 80 which my invention may assume in practice. to pass around a guide s rocket 9 secured, In these drawings,- as y a roof jack 10, in a vance of the ma- Fig. 1 is a plan view of my improved minchine, the feed chain then passing rearwarding apparatus, the apparatus being shown lg and is adapted to be secured, as at 11, to undercutting a anel. t e advancing side of the machine frame, 85 Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the thus formin a double strand feeding conapparatus shown in Fig. 1. nection whic substantially reduces the usual Fig. 3 is a modified form of the mining feedings eed of the machine. Asillustrated, apparatus shown in Fig. 1. disposed tween and supported by the uni- In the illustrative embodiment of my intary mining machines 1 and 2 is an elongated 9 vention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 I have prohorizontall disposed rigid cutter bar 12 vided aplurality of unitary mining machines, projecting ongitudinall; from the machine generally designated 1 and 2, respectively, rames and about whic an endless cutter which herein are of a' usual room and pillar bit carrying cutter chain 13 is adapted to be type and which are slidable on their bottoms circulated, the cutter chain being driven at 95 on the mine bottom in the usual manner and each end thereof by means of usual cutter each of the machines comprises a motor secchain sprockets, not shown, driven from the tion 3 housing a usual reversible motor, not mining machine drivin motors in a well shown, and a feed and cutter chain driving known manner. It is o vious that a rotary 5 section 4, the latter section housing a plura l type cutter bar may be used if desired. l

In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 3 I have provided a plurality of unitary min-A ing machines, generally designated 15 and 16, which are herein of the usual longwall type having their machine frames angularly disposed with respect to the cutter bar 12 and locked with respect thereto by means of usual detachable locking pins 17. As shown, these mining machines are slidable on the mine bottom and each comprises a motor section 18, a. feed section 19, and a cutter chain driving section 20, the sections 19 and 2O being disposed at each end of the motor section 18 and rigidly secured thereto in any suitable manner. The feed sections 19 of each of the machines house feeding mechanism including a feed operating member 21, similar to the feed operating member 5, heretofore described, and this feed operating member 21 cooperates with a feed chain 22 which is adapted to -be extended longitudinally of the machine and/around a guide sheave 23 secured at a point in advance of they machine. The chain 22 is adapted to be extended rearwardly from this guide sheave 23 and secured to the forward end of the machine frame, as at 24. The cutter chain drivin sections 20 house suitable mechanism inclu ing usual cutter chain driving sprockets, not shown, which are each adapted to simultaneousl drive the cutter chain 13.

In t e operation of both forms of the machines heretofore described, it will herein be noted that the machines are disposed in substantiall parallel entries and the cutter bar is exten ed transversely of the anel of coal to be undercut. The feed chains are then extended from the feed operating members around the guide sprockets on the machine lso and the stationary Guide sprockets in advance of the machine andj the free ends thereof are secured to the machine frames. The driving motors are then started and the cutter chain circulated about the cutter bar at a relatively high s eed. The operators then conneet the fee operating members in operative driving relation with the driving motors and the machine is fed relative to the feed chains at the desired cutting speed and the cutter bar is fed under the coal, the double strand feeding connections substantially reducing the normal feeding speed of the machine, this speed reduction being necessitated because of the unusually long cutter bar, which in some cases is one hundred feet in len th. If it is desired to feed the machine in t e opposite direction the driving motors are reversed, the cutter bits turned in their respective links, and the feed chains extended in a reverse manner relative to the feed operating members and connected to the opposite sides of the machine frames.

As a result of my invention an improved mining apparatus is provided especially adapted to use with the panel system of mining -wherein improved and simpliied feeding vand cutting means are provided. It will further be noted that an improved mining apparatus especially adapted to use with the panel system o mining is provided wherein standard room'and pillar or longwall mining machines are preferably utilized although the invention is not limited thereto, and combined in a. novel manner with a single connecting rigid cutter bar, the unitary mining machines preferably used forming separate driving and feeding means for each end of the cutter bar, but single driving means might obviously be used. Other advantages of my invention will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

Vhile I have in this application specifically described two forms which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that these forms of the same are shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A mining apparatus comprising spaced transportable supports each having a drivin motor and feeding means driven thereby, an cutting mechanism driven by one of said motors including a movable cuttn device and. an elongated rigid guide for sai cutting de-y vice along which the latter is movable, said guide extending between said supports and wholl supported thereon at its ends.

2. mining apparatus comprising spaced transportable sup orts each having a driving motor and fee ing means driven thereby, and cutting mechanism including an elongated rigid cutter bar extending between and supported atits ends by said supports, said cutter bar having an endless cutter chain orbitally movable about its outer edges, and driving connections between said motors and said cutter chain.

3. A mining apparatus comprising spaced transportable supports slidable on their bottoms on the mine bottom and each having a driving motor and feeding means driven thereby, and cutting mechanism driven by said motors including an orbitally movable cutting device and an elongated rigid guide for said cutting device along which the latter is movable, said guide extending between and wholly supported at its ends by said sup-- ports.

4. A mining apparatus comprising spaced transportable supports each having a driving motor and feeding means driven thereby, and cutting mechanism including an elongated horizontal rigid cutter bar extending between and supported at its ends by said supports, said cutter bar having an endless cutter chain orbitally movable about its outer edges, and driving connections between said motors and said cutter chain.

5. A mining apparatus comprising spaced transportable supports eachhaving a driving motor and feeding means driven thereby, and cutting mechanism including a rigid cutter bai: extending between and supported at its ends by said supports, said cutter bar carrying and guiding cutting devices, and means driven by said motors for actuating said cutting devices relative to said cutter bar to cut a kerf to admit said bar.

6. A mining apparatus comprising' spaced transportable supports each having a driving motor and feeding means driven thereby, said supports being slidable on their bottoms over the mine bottom during feeding, and cutting mechanism including an elongated rigid cutter' bar extending between and supported at its ends by said supports and carrying and guiding movable cutting devices, and means driven by said motors for actuating said cutting devices relative to said cutter bar to cut a kerf to admit said bar.

7. A mining apparatus comprising spaced transportable supports each having a driving motor and feeding means driven thereby, and cutting mechanism including a rigid cutter bar connecting said supports and carrying and guiding movable cutting mechanism, and means driven by Said motors for actuating said cutting mechanism relative to said cutter bar to cut a kerf to admit said bar, said feeding means being adapted to cause travel of said supports and bar in a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of said bar.

8. A mining apparatus comprising cutting mechanism including a rigid elongated cutter bar and a cutter chain carried by said bar, spaced transportable supports one at each end of said bar, means on one of said sup ports for actuating said cutterchain, and feeding means carried by each of said supports including av driving motor and feeding devices actuated thereby for moving said supports by power from said motors in a direction substantially transverse to the 1ongitudinal axis of said bar.

9. A mining apparatus comprising spaced portable supports slidable on their bottoms on the mine bottom and each having a driving motor and feeding means driven thereby, an elongated movable cutting device and an elongated rigid guide extending from one support to the other for said cutting device along which the latter is movable, said guide being Wholly supported at its ends on said supports, and means driven by said motor for actuating said cutting device reiative to said guide to cut a lrerf to admit said guide, said feeding means being adapted to move said supports in a direction substantially transverse to the iongitudinal axis of said cutting device and guide.

10. A mining apparatus comprising a pair of spaced mining machines slidable on their bottoms on the mine bottom and each having a. driving motor and feeding means driven thereby, and cutting mechanism including an elongated cutter bar extending between and supported at its ends by said machines and having an endless cutter chain orbitally movable about its outer edges, and driving means carried by each of said machines and driven by said motors for actuating said cutter chain.

11. A mining apparatus comprising spaced transportable supports slidable on their bottoms on the mine bottom and each having a driving motor and feeding means driven thereby, each of said feeding means including a do ible strand flexible connection, and cutting mechanism including a movable cutting device and an elongated rigid guide for said cutting device along which the latter is movable, said guide extending between said supports and wholly supported at its ends thereon, and means driven by said motors for actuating said cutting device relative to said guide to cut a kerf to admit said guide.

12. A mining apparatus comprising a plurality of spaced mining machines each having a driving motor, and cutting mechanism including a single rigid elongated horizontal cutter bar extending between said machines and supported at its ends thereon, said cutter bar having an orbitally movable cutter chain guided thereon about its outer edges, and driving connections between said motors and said cutter chain.

13. A mining apparatus comprising spaced transportable supports, cutting mechanism extending between said supports and having one end thereof supported by one of said supports andthe other end thereof supported by the other of said supports, said cutting mechanisni including a rigid guide supported wholly by said supports and carrying an endless cutter bit carrying cutter chain movable in a horizontal plane in a xed orbit which extends from one of said supports to the other and-surrounds said guide, driving means for actuating said cutter chain, and means for feeding said supports.

14. A mining apparatus comprising spaced transportable supports each having individual thereto a driving motor and feeding means driven thereby, and cutting mechanism including a rigid bar supported wholly by said supports and carrying an endless cutter bit carrying cutter chain movable in a horizontal plane in a fixed orbit about the periphery of said bar, said cutter bar being connected at its ends to said supports, and driving means for actuating saidv cutter chain.

15. A mining apparatus comprising spaced transportabie supports, a rigid elongated cutter chain supporting and guiding member extending between and supported at its ends by said supports, an endless cutter bit carrying cutter chain engaging said guide member directly and movable between said supports in a fixed orbit on said guide member, and driving means carried by said supports and operatively connected to said cutter chain for actuating the latter.

16. A mining apparatus comprising s aced transportable supports, a rigid elongate cutter chain guide member extending between and supported at its ends by said supports, an endless cutter bit carrying cutter chain movable betweensaid sup orts in direct engagement with and in a xed orbit on said guide member, and driving means carried by one of said supports and operatively connected to said cutter chain for actuating the latter.

17. A. mining apparatus comprising spaced transportable supports, cutting mechanism carried b said supports including a. movable cutting evice and an elongated rigid horizontal plane guide for said cuttin device along which the latter is movable etween 4 said supports to cut a horizontal kerf, said guide extending from one support to another and wholly supported on said supports at its opposite ends and means for feeding said supports at a cutting speed in a direction at right anvles to the direction of motion of said cutting device along said guide between said supports.

18. A mining apparatus comprising spaced transportable supports slidable on their bottoms directly on the mine bottom during the cutting operation, feeding means for said supports, and cuttin mechanism carried by said supports inclu in a movable cuttin device and an elongate rigid guide for sai cutting device along which the latter is movable, Said guide extending from one support to the other and wholly supported on said supports at its ends.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

MORRIS P. HOLMES. 

